Remote metering system



March 2, 1943. H. P. SIEWERT REMOZIE METERING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet .I.'

Filed Oct. 7, 1939 IND/0A 70/? A ND RECORDER Al 6 b m 27M m A C wan R N M 2 m I w @M% 0 2/1 7 d AW R E L mm 2. w m 6 m 5 m 2 Wqw A I 6 4/ Y kc w A 5 Wm NLU 3 J4 5% M, ma

March 2, 1943. s w 2,312,491

REMOTE METERING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 7, 1939 s Sheets-Shea 2 E Z. v j /w I I --8 f 29 IN TO \AMMMAJ m T12: R150 RECORDER E f PULSE F r CIRCUIT \PL" /0 a 93 min/ r mme 89 hireni'an- 196mm? W Patented Mar. 2, 1943 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention relates, generally, to electric power metering systems, and it has particular relation to remote metering systems in which a number or impulses is transmitted, the number being directly proportional to a variable quantity, such as the amount of electrical energy that isflowing in a power circuit.

An object of my invention is to generate heat in an amount which is proportional to the number of impulses and to measure the heat thus produced.

Another object of my invention is to generate heat in an amount which is proportional to the number of impulses and in turn to generate a voltage which is proportional to the heat produced and then to measure the voltage thus produced.

A further object of my invention is to reduce .the amount of heat thatis generated by a thermal converter in proportion to the number of 1iinpiulses and to measure the varying quantity of Still another object of my invention is to normally continuously energize a thermal converter from an alternating current source and to reduce the current flowing to the thermal converter during periodseach of which corresponds to an impulse.

A still further object of myv invention is to make the periods of the same length regardless of the length or the individual impulses.

Other objects of my invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

My invention, accordingly, is disclosed in the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangernents of parts which will be exemplified in the circuit arrangements hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically a complete remote metering system of the impulse type in which the' thermal converter is employed directly in conjunction with an impulse receiving relay;

' Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically how the thermal converter can be controlled by the .use of electric valves under-the control of the impulse receiving relay; and

Figure 3 illustrates diagrammaticallyhow the electric valves which are employed for controlling the thermal converter can be in turn controlled by additional electric valves without re quiring the use of any moving parts, such as the impulse receiving relay.

Referring now particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character l0 designates a source of alternating current, such as a cycle source, which is. arranged to energize a power circuit represented by the conductors ii and i2. It will be understood that ordinarily transformers and switcheswill be interposed between the alternating current source III and the conductors II and I2, and that a three-phase rather than a single phase system is employed. However, for purposes of illustration, the power system may be represented diagrammatically, as shown.

The .energy flowing in the power circuit can be measured by a contact-making wattmeter,-

shown generally at l3, and having voltage and current windings H and I5 which are connected to the power circuit conductors II and I2 in the usual manner, as illustrated. The windings l4 and I5 are positioned on a core l6 of laminations. The core I8 is generally C-shaped and between its ends a disc I! of conducting material rotates at a speed which it will be understood is directly proportional to the energy flowing inthe power circuit. Mounted for rotation with the.

disc I! is a contact bridging member i8 that is arranged to bridge contact members l9 once during each revolution of the disc I1.

When the contact members 19 are bridged an impulse is applied from a suitable current source, such as a. battery 20, to an impulse circuit comprisingv conductors 2i and 22. As shown, the

conductors 2i and 22 forming the impulse circuit comprise continuous conductors from the impulse transmitter or contact-making wattmeter l3 located at the' place where the power measurement is made, to a remote point where the indication of the amount of energy flowing in the power circuit is to. be given. While a direct wire connection is shown it will be unde1'.

stood that various other arrangements may be employed, such as carrier current or radio wat es,

etc., for transmitting impulses fromthe print of origin thereof to the remote point, it only being necessary that the'number of impulses received at the remote point correspond to the number of impulses transmitted which, in turn, is a. function or the energy flowing in the power circuit represented by the conductors l i and I2.

source 32 of alternating current.

As shown in the drawing,-the conductors 2| and 22 of the impulse circuit are connected to energize a winding 26w of an impulse-receiving relay which may be located at the remote point, such as a dispatchers oflice, where an indication of the energy flowing in the power circuit represented by the conductors II and I2 is desired. The impulse receiving relay 26 is provided with normally open contact members 26a and nortransformer 36. Thermocouples, shown generally at 44, are connected to be responsive to the heat that is generated by current flow through the re sistors 40 and 4|. The heat that is supplied to the thermocouples 44 causes a voltage to be generated which is a function of the heat and this mally closed contact members 26b; These con- 10 tact members are arranged, as shown, -to connect a primary winding 21p of a transformer, shown generally at 21; for energization by means of conductors 28 and 29 across conductors 3' and 3! which are energized from a constant voltage For proper operation 01 the impulse counting system which is presently to be described, it is preferable that the voltage of the source 32 be maintained substantially constant in order to insure greater ac- 2o curacy. It will be understood that any suitable standard voltage regulator can be employed for maintaining the voltage of the source 22 that is applied to the conductors 30 and 3| at -a value which is within the permissible limit at variation'. 1

It will be apparent that, when the impulse circuit comprising the conductors 2i and 22 is deenergized, the primary winding 21p oi. the transformer is energized with alternating current. On

receipt of an impulse the winding 2610 is energized Y and contact members 2511 are opened. Contact members 26a are momentarily closed, and then contact members 26b are again closed. During the time when neither of the sets of contact members 26a or 26b is closed, no current flows through the winding 21p. Thus the normallycontinuous flow of current through the primary winding 21 is interrupted to an extent which depends upon the number of times that the winding 2Iw is'energized orrthe number of impulses that are received over the impulse circuit.

The variable output of the transformer 21 is applied by means of its secondary winding 21: to

as 9. Lincoln thermal converter and is ordinarily a thermal converter, shown generally at 35. I The thermal converter 35 is what is known in the art employed in connection with demand measure-J ments in electric power circuits. whenso employed, it is energized in accordance: with-.the* o.

voltage across and the current flowingthrough'a power circuit. According to the presentfinvention, either the current or the voltage element'of the thermal converter 15 is connected to be con-' tinuously and uninterruptedly energized while the other element is likewise normally so-connected but is arranged to be deenergized each time that an impulse is received. Normally then, when no impulses are being received, the output of the thermal converter II is at a maximum. This:

maximum output is reduced under operating conditions in accordance with the number oi impulses received. c

The thermal converter 35 is providedwith a povoltage is applied across'conductors 45 and 46. This voltage, which usually is of the order of millivolts and may be a maximum oi 25 millivolts for one commercial size of the thermal converter 25 when both of the transformers. 21 and 35 are continuously energized, will be corerspondingly reduced on receipt of impulses as a result of the operation of the impulse receiving relay 26} The amount that the voltage across the conductors 45 and 46 is reduced is a measure of the number of impulses received. It now remains to describe one manner in which the voltage across the conductors and 46 can be measured. v

An indicator and recorder, shown generally at 58', is oi a standard type which is known on the market as a Leeds 8; Northrup indicator and recorder. It will be understood, of course, that any other suitable type of measuring apparatus may be employed, the particular type illustrated being shown for the purpose of demonstrating a confrom the thermocouples 44 of the thermal con- I verter 35 is connected to one terminal 01' a galvanometer 55 while the other terminal thereof is connected by a conductor 58 to a common connection 51 between the fixed resistors 52 and 53. By balancing the voltage across the conductors 45 and 4 against the voltage of the standard cell 54 by means of the galvanometer 55, it is possible to measure the generated voltage with a high degree of accuracy. The balance is eil'ected by moving a pointer 58, to which the conductor 46 is connected, along the potentiometer 5| until the v two voltages are balanced, or until the current which tends to flow as a result of the voltageacross the conductors 45 and 46 exactly balancesthe current which tends to flow i'rom the standard cell 54 through the galvanometer 55. when such a condition exists, the galvanometer 55 is in the zero or balanced position.

tential transformer, shown generally at 3', which operating with a calibrated scale I. The scale includes a primary winding p that is connected by conductors 30 and 39 to conductors II and ii,

respectively, which are energized from the constant voltage source 32. The secondary winding 30s is connected, as shown. to're'sistors 4| and 4| It'will now be apparent that the position oi the arm" at which the balanced condition is reached is a measure, not only of the voltage across the conductors 45 and 46 that is generated by the thermocouples 44, but also that'its position indicates the number of impulses that is being received. Since the number of impulses is a function of the energy that is flowing in the power circuit, represented 'by the conductors Ii and I2, the position of the arm 58 also indicates this amount of energy. Accordingly, the arm 58 can be provided with a pointer extension I! for 00-.

ll may be calibrated in any suitable units. For example, it may be calibrated from .zero to 1500 megawatts. This scale may then indicate the energy output of a single power station or, with a suitable totalizing arrangement, it may indioi the secondary winding 38: oi the potential catethe energy output of a number of power stations in a system. I

With a view to providing a permanent record ot-the variations in energy with respect to time,

a shaft extension 8| may be provided which, through a suitable mechanism, can be arranged to operate a pen which traces a line on a constantly moving time chart, as will b readily understood. I

Any suitable means can be provided for moving the arm 58 into the balanced position. For example, the arm 50 may be mounted on a shaft 84 which carries a gear wheel 85 that is arranged to have moved into engagement therewith either pinion 66 or pinion 91. The pinions 56 and 61 can be carried on a yoke 88 that is pivoted at 69 and has a depending arin\'|0 which is arranged to be moved in one direction or the other by the pointer II of the galvanometer 55. The pinions 68 and 8'! are carried by shafts l2 and I3 which also carry at their opposite ends pinions I4 and 15. A gear wheel 18 is arranged to drive pinion I5 while the pinion I9 is driven through an idler pinion 1-1, in order to cause the pinions I4 and I5 to rotate in opposite directions. The gear wheel I6 is carried by a shaft I8 that is rotated continuously by a'motor I9 of any suitable type that can be connected for energization across the cone ductors 89 and II.

It will be understood that the pinions 88 and B1 continuously rotate in opposite directions and that they are arranged to selectively engage the gear wheel 05 in accordance with the position of the galvanometerpointer II. The arm 58 will be correspondingly moved in one direction or the other in order to restore the balanced condition. The position of the pointer extension 59 with respect to the scale 90 will then indicate at all times the energy that flows in one or more power circuits, as represented by the number (if impulses received. 1

In Figure 2 o! the drawings I have illustrated another embodiment of the invention which, in some respects, is preferable to the embodiment disclosed in Figure 1 and described herein fore. The embodiment of the in ention shown in 'gure 2 makes use of the thermal converter 35 and the indicator and recorder 50, which have been previously shown and described in detail. Accordingiy, in Figure 2 they are illustrated diagrammatically. Also in the embodiment shown in Figure2 of the drawings, the current flow through the potential transformer 36 is reduced each time that an impulse is received, while the current flow through the transformer 21 i maintained constant. Y

Instead of employing a mechanical switch for controlling the flow of current to the potential transformer of the thermal .converted 35, a pair of electric valves 82 and 83 is provided and connected in the conductor 99. as shown, so as to conduct succeeding half-cycles of the alternating current. The'valves 82- and 83 are preferably of the thyratron type and are provided, respectively, with anodes 82a and 03a, control electrode 02g and 83g, and hot cathodes 02c and 030. The

cathodes 82c and 830 may be energized in any suitable manner, such as by low voltage transformers, the secondary windings 021. and 83t only being shown. A .conductor 84 is provided for interconnecting the anode 82a and the mid-point 03m of the secondary winding 83t while a conduo-tor 05 connects anode 83a with the mid-point 8211: of the secondary winding 82f as is customary.

Under normal operating conditions, when no impulses are being received, the valves 82 and 83 are conducting by having the control electrodes 82g and 93g biased positive with respect to the respective cathodes 82c and 830. As shown, the con.-

trol electrodes 82g and 899 are connected through resistors 821' and 881' to one terminal 89 of avcontrol resistor 81, the other terminal of which is connected to the positive terminal 88 of a suit able direct current source. -The negative termirl al ofthe direct current source is indicated at 89 and between these terminals are connected fixed resistors 90 and 9| and potentiometers 92 and 93. It will be understood that any suitable source-of direct current may be connected across the terminals 98 and 89. A battery can be employed, if desired. For illustrative purposes the electronic rectifier, shown generally at 99, has been provided. Since this is a conventional arrangement, it will not be described in detail.

With a view to employing only a single source of biasing potential for the control electrodes 82g and 83g, a resistor 98, having a relatively high resistance, is interconnected between the midpoints 82112 and 83m of the secondary windings 82! and Mt, and its mid-point 99 is connected by the adjustable pointer I00 to the resistor 92. With the arrangement thus far described it will be apparent that a positive biasing voltage will be applied to the control electrodes 82g and 83g and that the valves 82 and 83 will conduct successive half-cycles of the alternating current, or will function in the manner of a closed switch.

For each impulse that is received over the impulse circuit, the electric valves 82 and 83 are rendered non-conducting for a period the length of which is determined by the time that is re-.

quired, to charge a capacitor I08. Since each period during which the electric valves 82 and 83 are non-conducting corresponds to an impulse, it will be apparent that the functioning is essentially the same as that described hereinbefore when the circuit is opened for each impulse directly by means of the impulse receiving relay 26.

The charging of the capacitor I03 is initiated by the closure of contact members 26b of the impulse receiving relay 26 which, it will be recalled. is operated by energization of its winding 28w each time that an impulse is received. The cir cuit for charging the capacitor I03 extends through a control valve, shown generally at I04, which is preferably of the thyratron type, the

anode Illla being connected to one of the contact members 2817 while the cathode I04c is connected by the adjustable polnter I05 to the potentiometer 93. Normally the control valve I 04 is maintained in the non-conducting state by applying a negative biasing potential to its control electrode IMg from the terminal 89 of the direct current source through the resistor I041. The negative biasing potential on the control electrode I049 is overcome by means of a peaking transformer, shown generally at I0I, the primary winding I0'Ip of which is connected for energization across the conductors 90 and 8|, while the secondary winding I0'Is is connected in the circuit to the control electrode I049, as shown. The peaking transformer I01 is arranged to apply to the control electrode I08ga' peakedcontrol potential which, in alternate half-cycles, i sufllcient to overcome the negative potential norcontrol potential is employed in ordento. more accurately determine when the control valve I04 shall be rendered. 'co'nducting'and also'the time at which the capacitor I08 begins to receive its charge. Therefore, it will be understood that while the charging circuit for the capacitor I03 is closed at contact members 28b when an impulse is received, the charging is not initiated until the control valve I04 -is rendered conducting by the application of the peaked control'potential to the control electrode I049. Since the peakin transformer I! is energized from the same constant voltage source 32 that energizes the thermal converter 35, the initiation of th charging of the capacitor I03 will always take place at the same instant in a half cycle of the alternating current.

As soon as the capacitor I03 begins to charge, current flows through the control resistor 81 and the terminal-88 thereof becomes negative relative to the terminal 88 of the direct current source. The resistance of the resistor 81 and the current flow for charging the capacitor I03 are such that the potential of the terminal 88 becomes more negative than is the potential of the adjustable pointer I00 of the potentiometer 92. Since the control electrodes 82g and 83g of the valves 82 and 83 are connected to the terminal 88, they are now biased at a potential which is more negative than is the potential of the cathodes 82c and 830 and, consequently, the valve 82 or 83 which is conducting at the instant that the capacitor I03 begins to charge, ceases to conduct at the end of that half cycle and it and the other valve are rendered non-conducting as long as the control electrodes 82g and 83g remain at a negative potential with respect. to their cathodes 82c and 83c. This time is determined by the time that is required to charge the capacitor I03 which is a function of the product. of the resistance of the resistor 81 and the capacitance of the capacitor I03. When the capacitor I03 is charged to a predetermined po-' tential, the potential of the terminal 88 again becomes positive with respect to the potential of the pointer I30 and at that instant in a half cycle one or the other of the valves 82 or 83 is rendered conducting, depending upon the polarity of the half cycle. I

With a view to insuring that the control valve I84 will be rendered conducting, a resistor I08 is plete its charging cycle while the contact members 28b of the impulse receiving relay 28 are held closed. The length of the impulse, to a of the invention is illustrated which does not depend for its proper functioning upon the length of the received impulses. It is controlled solely in accordance with the number of impulses received and is independent 'of the length thereof.

As before, electric valves 82 and 83 are provided for controlling the energy that is supplied to the thermal converter-35. It will be observed that in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 82g and 83g biased to a positive potential. They are connected to the adjustable pointer III at a point along the potentiometer II4 which is positive with respect to a terminal II8, towhich isconnected the mid-point as of the resistor as which interconnects the indirectly heated cathodes 82'c and 83'c.

A normally fully charged capacitor H8 is connected between the positive terminal 38 of the direct current source and the terminal 8, so that the potential of the latter is negative with respect to the potential of the pointer II'I. Connected between the terminal 3' and the pointer III is a resistor, shown generally at I 20,

which is made up of an adjustable section I2I 7 anda fixed section I22. It will be understood that the time required to charge the capacitor I I3 is a function of the product of its capacitance and the resistance of the resistor I20. The manner in which the capacitor H8 is discharged and charged will be presently set forth.

As indicated, the capacitor 8 is normally charged when no impulses are being received. A shunting valve, shown generally at I24, is provided' for discharging the capacitor II8. This valve is preferably of the thyratron type and has certain extent, then controls the functioning of the system. While the number of impulses is to be totalized, it is desirable, for obvious reasons, to have the periods during which the valves 82 and 83 are rendered non-conducting be identical in length. Therefore, it is. essential that the length of the impulse that is received be longer than the non-conducting period of' the valves 82 and 83 in each instance. While it is readily possible to provide fpr such an arrangement, it is deslrableto employ a system which is dependent only upon receipt of an impulse and .is entirely in Figure 3 of the drawings an embodiment an anode I24a, a control electrode I24a, and a hot cathode I24c. Normally the shunting valve I24 is maintained in the non-conducting state by means of a lockout valve, shown generally at I25,

which is normally in the conducting state. The lockout valve I28 is preferably of the thyratron type and it includes an anode I280, a control electrode I28g, and an indirectly heated cathode I250. As shown, the cathode I28c is connected to a pointer I28 that is movable along the po-' tentiometer H8. The circuit for the lookout valve I25 is completed through a capacitorfll and resistors I23 and I28 to a pointer I38 along the potentioimeter III.

A start valve, shown generally at I33 and preferably of the thyratron type, is provided having an anode I33a, a control electrode I33g, and an indirectly heated cathode I330 that is connected to the pointer I28. Normally the start valve I33 is non-conducting. It is rendered conducting on receipt of an impulse from the impulse circuit by means of an impulse transformei', shown generally at I34. It will be obmrved that the primary winding I341) is connected to the impulse circuit while the secondary winding I343 is connected to the negative terminal 38 of the direct v 2,312,491 current source and through resistor I33r to the control electrode I339.

On receipt of an impulse from the impulse cir cuit, a potential is induced in the secondary winding l34s of the impulse transformer I34 which is sufficiently positive to overcome 'the normally negative potential applied to the control electrode I33g and the start valve I33 then becomes conducting. The charge on the capacitor I21 is then reversed and the lockout valve I is rendered non-conducting. As a result, the potential of the control electrode I24g of the shunting valve I24 becomes less negative, since it is now connected to the adjustable pointer I rather than through the lockout valve I25 to the adjustable pointer I26. However, this reduction in negative potential applied to the control elec-' trode I24g is not in itself suflicient to render the shunting valve I24 conducting. It remains for the peaking transformer I01 to apply the necessary positive control potential to the control electrode I24g for rendering the shunting valve I24 conducting at the desired instant in a half cycle for the reasons set forth hereinbefore. It will be observed that the primary winding I01p of the peaking transformer I01 is connected for energization across the conductors 30 and 3|, while the secondary winding I01s is connected through the resistor I24r to the control electrode l24g.

When th shunting valve I24 is rendered conducting, the capacitor IIQ is immediately discharged therethrough. In the uncharged condition the capacitor H9 acts as a short circuit be- .tween the terminal H8 and the'terminal 88 of the direct current source. 'As a result, control electrodes 829' and 83g of the valves 82' and 83 have applied thereto a negative potential and these valves are thereupon rendered non-conducting. The time during which they remain in the non-conducting state iscontrolled by the time" that is required to recharge the capacitor Another result of the discharge of the capacitor H9 is to extinguish the shunting valve I24 because of the short circuit that is placed around it. It is maintained in this condition as a result of the lookout valve I25 again becoming conducting. This is efiected by the provision of a transformer I35, the primary winding I351) of which is connected between the anode I24a and the terminal 88 of the direct current source. The secondary winding I s of the transformer I35 is connected in the circuit to the control electrode I25g through the resistor I25r. The current flowing through the primary winding I351) on discharge of the capacitor II9 induces a voltage in the secondary winding I353 which is sufficient to overcome the negative potential that is normally applied to the control electrode The subsequent cycle of operations which take place is entirely independent of thelength of the impulse.

Since certain further changes can be made in the foregoing circuit arrangements and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the scope. thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A telemetering system comprising, in combination, a transmitter for sending impulses at a rate per unit time which is determined by a variable to be transmitted; a multiplying device having means responsive to two electrical characteristics and means for measuring the product of said characteristics; means for maintaining both of said characteristics substantially constant, and means for reducing one of said characteristics from its otherwise constant value in accordance with the rate per unit time that said impulses are received.

2. A telemetering system comprising, in combination, a transmitter for sending impulses at a rate per unit time which is determined by a variable to be transmitted; a multiplying device having means responsive to two electrical characteristics and means for measuring the product of said characteristics; means for maintaining both of said characteristics substantially constant, and a relay controlled by said impulses for reducing one of said characteristics from its otherwise. constant valuein accordance with the rate per unit time that the relay receives thestant including circuit means directly connected to an alternating current source and additional I25g and as aresultthe lockout valve I25 again becomes conducting. Thereupon the control electrode I24g of the-shunting valve I24 has applied thereto a negative biasing potential from the pointer I26 along the resistor II5 and this valve is maintained in the non-conducting state.

Another result of the lockout valve I25 becoming conducting is to render the start valveifl non-conducting because of the reversal of the circuit means connected through electric valve means to said source, means for maintaining said electric valve means in the conducting state, and means for rendering said electric valve means non-conducting in accordance with the rate per unit time that said impulses are received.

4. A telemetering system comprising, in combination, a transmitter for sending electrical impulses at a rate per unit time which is-determined by a variable to be transmitted; a thermal converter having means responsive to two variable eiectrical characteristics and thermal means for measuring the product of said characteristics;

means for maintainingone ofsaid characteristics substantially constant, and means for changing the other characteristicin accordance with the rate per unit time that said impulses are received.

5. A telemetering system comprising, in combination, a transmitter for sending electrical impulses at a rate per unit time which is determined by a. variable to be transmitted; a thermal converter having means responsive to two variable electrical characteristics and thermal means for measuring the product of said characteristics; means for maintaining-both of said characteristics substantially constant, and means for reducing one of said characteristics from its constant value in accordance with the rate per unit time that said impulses are received.

6. A telemetering system comprising, in combination, a transmitter for sending electrical impulses at a rate per unit time which is determined by a variable to be transmitted; a thermal converter having means responsive to two variable electrical characteristics and thermal means for measuring the product of said characteristics; means for maintaining both 01 said characteristics substantially constant, and a relay controlled by said impulses for reducing one of said characteristics from its constant value in accordance with the rate per unit time that the relay receives the impulses.

7. A telemetering system comprising, in combination, a transmitter for sending electrical impulses at a rate per unit time which is determined by a variable to be transmitted; a thermal converter having means responsive to two variable electrical characteristics and thermal means for measuring the product of said characteristics; means for maintaining one of said characteristics substantially constant, electric valve means for controlling the other characteristic, and means for controlling the conductivity of said electric valve means in accordance with the rate per unit time that said impulses are received.

8. A telemetering system comprising, in combination, a transmitter for sending electrical impulses at a rate per unit time which is determined by a variable to be transmitted; a thermal converter having means responsive to two variable electrical characteristics and thermal means for measuring the product of said characteristics;

means for maintaining both of said character- 1 istics substantially constant including circuit means directly connected to an alternating curv rent source and additional circuit means connected through electric valve means to said source, means for maintaining said electric valve means in the conducting state, and means for rendering said electric valve means non=conducting in accordance with the rate per unit time that said impulses are received.

HERBERT P. SIEWERT. 

